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Craig Holden, 22, dies while in custody at the SF Bayview Police Station.
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Craig Holden, 22, of San Pablo, was declared dead just after midnight on 9-21-05 while in custody at the SF Bayview Police Station.
Craig Holden, 22, of San Pablo, was declared dead just after midnight on 9-21-05 while in custody at the SF Bayview Police Station.
Another Stolen Young life in Bayview, Craig Holden dies in custody
Craig Holden, 22, of San Pablo, was declared dead just after midnight on 9-21-05 while in custody at the SF Bayview Police Station.
Today a SF Chronicle article reveals that Craig had asthma, had difficulty breathing at the station and Paramedics were called. Craig would have refused to be transported to the hospital. The paramedics concluded to medical clearance and left. Further in the Chronicle article:
"Twenty-three minutes later, officers called paramedics again after finding
that Holden was "in distress," police said. A sergeant spotted Holden
slumped on a bench, where he had been awaiting booking. "
Red flag... I wonder: was Craig unattended for 23 MINUTES although he had been clearly identified as an asthma sufferer in distress?
"They had to physically subdue him because he was resisting arrest," said
Sgt. Neville Gittens, a spokesman for the Police Department. He would not
specify what kind of force officers had used."
Again... What means of restraint were applied to restrain Craig Holden? Wrestling a suspect to the ground, the usual pressure applied to the carotid on the neck to promote loss of consciousness, body wrap, choke hold, taser, pepper spray, applying pressure to the chest, forcefully maintaining a suspect on the ground, whatever means were used would invariably provoke a severe attack that could be lethal for an asthma sufferer. Did Craig told the arresting officers about his asthmatic condition during the arrest? When did he start experiencing breathing difficulties? How long did Craig gasp for air until they finally "found" him slumped, and dead, on a bench? . Unfortunately Craig will not tell...
When will the Coroner's report be available to the public? It should at least determine any traces of Pepper spray in his pharynx and bronchial tubes, any contusions about the neck or chest.
Another one bites the Bayview dust
Another young stolen life.
We are waiting. And watching.
For more information:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ENOUGH_BVHP/
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Coroner says jail death was ‘accidental’
By CATHY SMITH
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ — The coroner says lack of oxygen due to restraint by County Jail officers Saturday caused the "accidental" death of a Santa Cruz man.
David Anthony Cross, 44, of Santa Cruz, lost consciousness during a struggle with jail deputies, who were trying to restrain him after he began banging his head on his cell door Saturday night. Cross died the next day.
An autopsy showed he had amphetamine, a stimulant, in his system, though how much or which type is not yet known. The coroner’s report states Cross’ 260-pound weight contributed to his death. Sheriff Steve Robbins said he believes Cross went into cardiac arrest before losing consciousness.
The county’s longtime forensic pathologist, Dr. Richard Mason, performed an autopsy Monday and said a Taser used during the struggle did not contribute to Cross’ death, which he called "accidental." Mason could not be reached to comment.
An investigation into Cross’ death, as well as an internal affairs investigation, is being done, Robbins said.
Cross was arrested Saturday by Santa Cruz police for a domestic violence incident and tampering with gas lines.
About eight hours later, he began yelling, kicking and banging his head against his cell door.
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Several correctional officers were involved, and medical staff were present as well, and they feared Cross would injure himself, Robbins said. At some point in the struggle, he stopped breathing and was taken to Dominican Hospital after first-aid efforts at the jail failed. He was admitted in critical condition and died Sunday afternoon.
Robbins said it "appears it was hands-on" force that was used. He said the Taser "did not faze" Cross, who was not shot with darts, but rather, the Taser was applied to his shoulder at close range, in a stun charge.
He said it appears Cross stopped breathing after being restrained, though it was unclear who was holding him and how.
"We will look at all those factors," he said. "It’s tragic for anyone, and it may well be an error. We need to find out. There will be more to follow."
Both investigations are being handled by the Sheriff’s Office, which includes the coroner and the jail. Any criminal charges, though investigators say they are unlikely, would be decided by District Attorney Bob Lee.
Cross’ mother, reached by telephone at her Santa Cruz home, declined comment.
"We don’t have a whole lot of information yet," Jean Cross said.
Sentinel files show that Cross was married in 1986, and had a daughter in 1988. In 1986, he worked as a journeyman plumber for his father’s business.
Cross was scheduled to go to trial Monday for a domestic violence case. His attorney in that May case, John P. Hannon II of Capitola, said that involved an ex-girlfriend and was not a "severe" incident. Hannon said the two had a problematic relationship for years and she was reluctant to testify against him.
Hannon said he was hoping Cross would get the treatment for a drug problem. He said Cross worked as a plumber, but was between jobs and was spending time working on his Seabright area home.
"He was a nice guy," he said. "I’m just sorry to hear he got killed."
Sheriff’s Lt. Phil Wowak said the focus of his investigation will be whether Cross was restrained too severely.
"Dr. Mason has determined the manner of death was an accident," he said. "But we can’t rule anything out at this early stage."
An internal affairs investigation could find that none of the officers or medical staff were at fault or include sanctions ranging from counseling to termination. That decision would be up to the sheriff.
"It’s the same with any civil service employee in the county or the city," said Chief Deputy Len Lofano, who heads the sheriff’s detention bureau.
He said excitability, size and drugs are all factors that put officers "between a rock and a hard place."
"A person with all these factors leaves us with very little options," he said.
Cross was in the jail’s medical unit because he has caused problems in jail before, Lofano said. Officers determined during a standard screening process that it would be the safest as it includes frequent monitoring by staff and video.
Robbins said it may have been anxiety about jail that caused Cross to act irrationally.
When asked if his staff acted correctly, Lofano said he has never witnessed malice by the officers and sergeant involved and holds them in high regard.
"It’s easy for us to sit back and Monday-morning-quarterback things, but we’re not there in the emotion of the event," Lofano said. "One death in custody is too many, but at the same time, rarely do we end up with an in-custody death."
Suicides are more common in jail, he said. The last was in 2004.
In 2003, Cutberto Salgado Diaz, 38, of Santa Cruz stopped breathing soon after a sheriff’s deputy and Santa Cruz police restrained him after he broke into a home on Ocean Street and was acting erratically and walking into the street. The coroner ruled his death was caused by a cocaine-induced heart attack.
If such deaths involving police and citizens occur outside the jail, a countywide team investigates, Wowak said.
Robbins said the officers involved are on their regular days off and there is nothing to indicate the need to remove them.
"Despite what the general public may think, or not think, the officers are traumatized as well, and we want to make sure their concerns are being heard," he said. "But any time there is a death under our care or custody it is of the utmost concern. We will go ahead and collect all the information, and we will ask the District Attorney to review it, and the District Attorney is separate from us, though we work with them closely."
There are also liability concerns, he said.
"But if we did something wrong, we did," Robbins said. "And if it was an unfortunate accident, that will come out as well."
The Sheriff’s Office has a policy and training procedures for all levels of force and Tasers used by deputies in jail and on the street, Lofano said.
Contact Cathy Smith at csmith [at] santacruzsentinel.com.
By CATHY SMITH
Sentinel staff writer
SANTA CRUZ — The coroner says lack of oxygen due to restraint by County Jail officers Saturday caused the "accidental" death of a Santa Cruz man.
David Anthony Cross, 44, of Santa Cruz, lost consciousness during a struggle with jail deputies, who were trying to restrain him after he began banging his head on his cell door Saturday night. Cross died the next day.
An autopsy showed he had amphetamine, a stimulant, in his system, though how much or which type is not yet known. The coroner’s report states Cross’ 260-pound weight contributed to his death. Sheriff Steve Robbins said he believes Cross went into cardiac arrest before losing consciousness.
The county’s longtime forensic pathologist, Dr. Richard Mason, performed an autopsy Monday and said a Taser used during the struggle did not contribute to Cross’ death, which he called "accidental." Mason could not be reached to comment.
An investigation into Cross’ death, as well as an internal affairs investigation, is being done, Robbins said.
Cross was arrested Saturday by Santa Cruz police for a domestic violence incident and tampering with gas lines.
About eight hours later, he began yelling, kicking and banging his head against his cell door.
Advertisement
Several correctional officers were involved, and medical staff were present as well, and they feared Cross would injure himself, Robbins said. At some point in the struggle, he stopped breathing and was taken to Dominican Hospital after first-aid efforts at the jail failed. He was admitted in critical condition and died Sunday afternoon.
Robbins said it "appears it was hands-on" force that was used. He said the Taser "did not faze" Cross, who was not shot with darts, but rather, the Taser was applied to his shoulder at close range, in a stun charge.
He said it appears Cross stopped breathing after being restrained, though it was unclear who was holding him and how.
"We will look at all those factors," he said. "It’s tragic for anyone, and it may well be an error. We need to find out. There will be more to follow."
Both investigations are being handled by the Sheriff’s Office, which includes the coroner and the jail. Any criminal charges, though investigators say they are unlikely, would be decided by District Attorney Bob Lee.
Cross’ mother, reached by telephone at her Santa Cruz home, declined comment.
"We don’t have a whole lot of information yet," Jean Cross said.
Sentinel files show that Cross was married in 1986, and had a daughter in 1988. In 1986, he worked as a journeyman plumber for his father’s business.
Cross was scheduled to go to trial Monday for a domestic violence case. His attorney in that May case, John P. Hannon II of Capitola, said that involved an ex-girlfriend and was not a "severe" incident. Hannon said the two had a problematic relationship for years and she was reluctant to testify against him.
Hannon said he was hoping Cross would get the treatment for a drug problem. He said Cross worked as a plumber, but was between jobs and was spending time working on his Seabright area home.
"He was a nice guy," he said. "I’m just sorry to hear he got killed."
Sheriff’s Lt. Phil Wowak said the focus of his investigation will be whether Cross was restrained too severely.
"Dr. Mason has determined the manner of death was an accident," he said. "But we can’t rule anything out at this early stage."
An internal affairs investigation could find that none of the officers or medical staff were at fault or include sanctions ranging from counseling to termination. That decision would be up to the sheriff.
"It’s the same with any civil service employee in the county or the city," said Chief Deputy Len Lofano, who heads the sheriff’s detention bureau.
He said excitability, size and drugs are all factors that put officers "between a rock and a hard place."
"A person with all these factors leaves us with very little options," he said.
Cross was in the jail’s medical unit because he has caused problems in jail before, Lofano said. Officers determined during a standard screening process that it would be the safest as it includes frequent monitoring by staff and video.
Robbins said it may have been anxiety about jail that caused Cross to act irrationally.
When asked if his staff acted correctly, Lofano said he has never witnessed malice by the officers and sergeant involved and holds them in high regard.
"It’s easy for us to sit back and Monday-morning-quarterback things, but we’re not there in the emotion of the event," Lofano said. "One death in custody is too many, but at the same time, rarely do we end up with an in-custody death."
Suicides are more common in jail, he said. The last was in 2004.
In 2003, Cutberto Salgado Diaz, 38, of Santa Cruz stopped breathing soon after a sheriff’s deputy and Santa Cruz police restrained him after he broke into a home on Ocean Street and was acting erratically and walking into the street. The coroner ruled his death was caused by a cocaine-induced heart attack.
If such deaths involving police and citizens occur outside the jail, a countywide team investigates, Wowak said.
Robbins said the officers involved are on their regular days off and there is nothing to indicate the need to remove them.
"Despite what the general public may think, or not think, the officers are traumatized as well, and we want to make sure their concerns are being heard," he said. "But any time there is a death under our care or custody it is of the utmost concern. We will go ahead and collect all the information, and we will ask the District Attorney to review it, and the District Attorney is separate from us, though we work with them closely."
There are also liability concerns, he said.
"But if we did something wrong, we did," Robbins said. "And if it was an unfortunate accident, that will come out as well."
The Sheriff’s Office has a policy and training procedures for all levels of force and Tasers used by deputies in jail and on the street, Lofano said.
Contact Cathy Smith at csmith [at] santacruzsentinel.com.
For more information:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2...
DIRTY COP TERRORIST TACTICS with "police powers."
(1) using the power of the badge to, falsify and
fabricate a police report.
All cops need to be monitored like rats, via video and audio when on duty, and those cops with a history of
police report fabrication, falsification need to be monitored off duty, as well.
All cops need to be monitored like rats, via video and audio when on duty, and those cops with a history of
police report fabrication, falsification need to be monitored off duty, as well.
----------------------------- the end 9/25/2005 sun.
I have noticed that there are a lot of stupid, ignorant people that write articles on this web site....first of all you should know what your alking about, tasers? cops cant carry tasers in this city you idiot and then asking all those questions, did they do this or did they do that to the guy, you dont know if they did everything right or everything wrong so why would you just assume that they are dirty and racist and want to kill people. you guys act like cops are some aliens from another planet or robots that are out doing evil. I have an idea, you think you could do the job better? why dont you try to do the job?
Well maybe cops are evil robots and or Aliens, they sure dont act like civilized human beings.
yes they do act like civilized human beings! It's the idiots they come into contact with that are not civilized!
huh what color is the sky in your world green?
Police when confronted by someone thats going to attack them use weapons to protect themselves LOL, just because their simply not tough or strong enough to protect themselves with their hands.
If the Police cant handle their job then maybe they should be out looking for a new JOB liike maybe meter maids or doorman or something.
Police when confronted by someone thats going to attack them use weapons to protect themselves LOL, just because their simply not tough or strong enough to protect themselves with their hands.
If the Police cant handle their job then maybe they should be out looking for a new JOB liike maybe meter maids or doorman or something.
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